Tracked vehicle toy

ABSTRACT

A vehicular toy comprising one or more concentric carrier rings, each ring having a pair of radially spaced, concentric, upwardly disposed tracks and an annular upwardly opening channel between the tracks, an annular tow ring in the channel of each ring, each tow ring having circumferentially spaced upwardly projecting tow hooks and an annular series of gear-engaging parts, a drive gear engaging the gear-engaging parts on the tow rings, a prime mover driving the gear and four-wheeled toy vehicles engageable on each carrier ring with the wheels engaged on the tracks thereof and having a downwardly projecting tow pin projecting into the channel between the tracks and engaged by a tow hook.

United States Patent Coffey, Sr.

[ Oct. 24, 1972 [541 TRACKED VEHICLE TOY [72] inventor: Francis T. Coffey, Sr., 430 South Fremont Avenue, Alhambra, Calif. 91801 [22] Filed: Feb. 3, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 223,175

[52] US. Cl. ..46/216, 46/243 LV, 273/86 B [51] Int. Cl. ..A63h 19/36 [58] Field of Search..46/202, 216, 243 LV; 223/86 B [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,786,680 3/1957 Northrop et a1 ..273/86 B 2,918,284 12/1949 Baca ..273/86 B 3,120,389 2/1964 Lombard ..273/86 B 3,204,963 9/1965 Caputi ..273/86 B 3,593,457 7/1971 Ernst ..46/243 LV Primary Examinerl.ouis G. Mancene Assistant ExaminerRobert F. Cutting Attorney-George A. Maxwell [5 7] ABSTRACT A vehicular toy comprising one or more concentric carrier rings, each ring having a pair of radially spaced, concentric, upwardly disposed tracks and an annular upwardly opening channel between the tracks, an annular tow ring in the channel of each ring, each tow ring having circumferentially spaced upwardly projecting tow hooks and an annular series of gear-engaging parts, a drive gear engaging the gear-engaging parts on the tow rings, a prime mover driving the gear and four-wheeled toy vehicles engageable on each carrier ring with the wheels engaged on the tracks thereof and having a downwardly projecting tow pin projecting into the channel between the tracks and engaged by a tow hook.

8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures TRACKED VEHICLE TOY This invention has to do with a toy and ismore particularly concerned with a novel motor-driven, tracked, vehicle toy.

The art of motor driven, tracked, vehicular toys, such as electric trains and the like is extremely old and highly developed. Such toys have been provided for all age groups, ranging from extremely simple toy structures for the very young to quite complicated and sophisticated structures for older and more mature persons.

The toy provided by the present invention is primarily intended to be attractive and to satisfy the desires and the needs of children through a rather wide range of age, starting from the very youngest and extending to that age where the most sophisticated toys of the general class here concerned with become desired and are required to provide sought after pleasure and entertainment.

An object and feature of the present invention is to provide a toy of the character referred to comprising an annular carrier ring defining a pair of radially spaced, concentric tracks, an annular tow ring carried by the carrier ring to occur between the tracks, electric drive means driving the tow ring circumferentially of the carrier ring, a plurality of wheeled vehicles engageable on the tracks, and coupling means to couple the vehicles to the tow ring.

It is an object of my invention to provide a toy of the character referred to wherein the tow ring is provided with gear teeth engaging parts throughout its circumferential extent and said drive means includes a drive gear engaged with the gear teeth engaging parts of the ring and an electric motor driving said gear.

Another object of this invention is to pro a toy of the character referred to wherein the coupling means includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced tow hooks about the upper portion of the tow ring and tow pins on and depending from the underside of the vehicles and engageable with the tow hooks when the vehicles are engaged on the tracks and such that a plurality of vehicles can be selectively arranged and towed in varying spaced relationship about the circumferential extent of the carrier ring.

A further object and feature of the instant invention is to provide a toy of the character referred to wherein the tracks have upwardly projecting inner rail portions which project upwardly adjacent the inner sides of the wheels of the vehicles related thereto and in close proximity to the undersides of the vehicles and wherein the tow hooks on the rings project upwardly above the plane of the tracks and below the upper plane of the rail portions of the tracks and wherein the tow pins depending from the vehicles and which engage the tow hooks terminate on a plane above the lowermost plane of the wheels thereof whereby the tow hooks between the tracks occur below and are protected by the upper portions of said rail portions and the tow pins terminate above the lowermost plane of the wheels of the vehicles whereby they are protected and are such that they do not interfere with the free wheeling movement of the vehicles on other flat surfaces.

It is another object and feature of the presnt invention to provide a structure of the character referred to wherein the carrier ring is a unitary part with an annular, upwardly opening channel between the tracks in which the tow ring is arranged. The channel has a bottom on which a lower edge of the tow ring is slidably engaged and supported.

Still further, it is an object and feature of this invention to provide novel retaining means to retain the tow ring on the channel in the carrier ring. The retaining means includes a retaining flange on the tow ring and circumferential spaced retaining pins carried by the carrier ring to occur above the flange and thereby prevent vertical displacement of the tow ring from within the channel.

It is an object and feature of this invention to provide a toy of the character referred to comprising two carrier ring and tow ring assemblies of the character and nature set forth above which assemblies are of different diametric extent and are arranged in radially spaced concentric relationship with each other and a structure wherein a single motor driven drive gear is arranged between the carrier rings and engaged with the tow rings whereby the two tow rings and the vehicles related to them are driven in counter rotational direction relative to each other.

Another object and feature of my invention is to provide a reversible drive motor and switch means whereby the direction of rotation of the tow ring or tow rings can be reversed.

It is an object and feature of the present invention to provide a toy of the character referred to having circumferentially spaced support legs releasably engaged with the carrier ring or carrier rings whereby the rings are supported in elevated relationship above a support surface and a structure wherein one leg structure houses the drive means.

Finally, it is an object and feature of this invention to provide a structure which is such that it is easy and economical to manufacture and such that it can be distributed and sold at a low price.

The foregoing and other objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferred forms and applications of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one form of my invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of another form of my invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 33-3 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 4-4 on FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a section of preformed stock provided to establish tow rings;

FIG. 6 is a view showing a typical vehicle provided by the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 7-7 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 8-8 on FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 99 on FIG. 2.

In FIG. 1 of the drawings, I have shown a simple form of my invention, including a single track while in FIG. 2 of the drawings, I have shown a more complex, double track form of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the invention comprises a single annular carrier ring R, support legs L for the ring R, drive means D and a plurality or set of vehicles V.

In FIG. 2 of the drawings, the basic structure set forth above is provided and in addition thereto is provided a secondary carrier ring R, modified support legs L', drive means D, and a second set of vehicles V.

In both forms of the invention, the various means noted above are essentially the same. The principal distinctions being that the rings R and R' are of different diametric extent, the drive means D' is related to the inner side of the outermost ring R and the outer side of the innermost ring R' while the means D is related to the inner side of the ring R only. The support legs L and the means D in the second form of the invention are designed to engage with the two rings R and R, rather than a single ring, as do the legs L and means D, in the first form of the invention.

The ring R, shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, is a unitary, molded plastic carrier ring and is characterized by inner and outer sides and 11, a flat top 12, a flat bottom 13, a central, annular, upwardly opening channel C and inside and outside radially inwardly and radially outwardly projecting flanges l4 and spaced a limited distance from the top 12 and having flat top surfaces defining inner and outer tracks K. The upper portions of the rings occurring at opposite sides of the channel C and projecting above the tracks T are preferably provided with side surfaces which are included relative to their related tracks at obtuse angles and define what will be referred to as inner retaining rail portions J of or on the tracks.

The channel C has inner and outer flat, vertical opposing side walls 16 and 17 and a flat bottom 18 and in the case illustrated, the bottom of the ring is recessed as at 19 to reduce the weight and volume of material used in establishing the ring R and to maintain substantially uniform wall thickness.

The ring R in the second form of the invention is smaller in diameter than the ring R, but is otherwise identical thereto in cross-section.

The invention further includes a tow ring T arranged within the channel C. The ring T can be molded of plastic, but is preferably formed of a ribbon-like length of formed sheet metal, bent into ring form with its ends suitably fixed together, as by induction welding. The ring T has flat vertical inner and outer surfaces and a continuous row of perforations about its circumferential extent, substantially midway between its upper and lower edges and defining a continuous series of circumferentially spaced gear teeth engaging parts or bars 20. The perforations are preferably square and the bars 20, defined by adjacent perforrnations, are straight vertical parts or portions of the ring T.

The ring T is substantially less in radial cross-sectional extent than the channel C and its mean diametric extent is equal to the mean diametric extent of the channel whereby the ring T, when arranged concentrically in the channel C, occurred freely therein and in spaced relationship from the side walls of the channel.

The ring T is next provided with a radially inwardly projecting, horizontal retaining flange F on and about its bottom edge. The flange F defines the bottom of the ring T. The flange F establishes sliding supporting engagement on the bottom of the channel and is slightly smaller in inside diametric extent than the channel whereby it will engage the inner surface or wall of the channel if the ring is moved out of concentricity with the channel and thereby prevent excessive misalignment between the ring T and ring R.

The upper edge of the ring T terminates below the opening top of the channel C. The top of ring R is provided with and carries a plurality of circumferentially spaced, upwardly projecting tow hooks H. The tow hooks H are preferably formed integrally with the ring T and project upwardly therefrom. Each hook H has an inclined leg portion 30 projecting upwardly and radially outwardly from the top of the ring and has a horizontally disposed radially inwardly projecting tow bar 31 at the upper end of the leg portion, extending transverse the channel C adjacent to or in close proximity to the open top of the channel. The tow bar is slightly less in radial extent than the radial cross-sectional extent of the channel C and is such that the bar 31 serves to maintain the ring T concentric with the channel C and slidably engage the side walls of the channel when the ring T shifts out of concentric relationship therewith. The bars 31 stop and limit such shifting.

The ring R is next provided with a radially inwardly opening horizontally, radially extending slot opening 35 of limited circumferential extent, in a common plane with the teeth engaging parts of the ring T, communicating with the channel C and adopted to accommodate a drive gear or sprocket of the drive means D as will hereinafter be described.

Next, the ring is provided with two or more retaining pins 36 spaced circumferentially from the opening 35 and from each other and projecting radially inwardly from the inner wall of the channel to occur above the retaining flange F on the ring T and to thereby prevent the ring T from shifting up and out of engagement in the channel.

The pins 36 are simple metal or plastic pins pressfitted into suitable pin openings formed in the ring R.

Finally, the ring R is provided with outwardly opening orienting and retaining grooves 38 extending about its inner, outer and bottom surfaces and adapted to cooperatively receive and engage the legs L and/or portions of the means D as will hereinafter be described.

The legs L are substantially flat, vertical, molded plastic parts occurring on common radial planes with the grooves 38 in the ring R with which they are related. Each leg has an upwardly opening notch 39 corresponding in configuration with the groove 38 related to it and is snugly slidably engaged into sealed engagement in and frictionally retained in said grooves.

The lower end of each leg L is provided with support surface engaging means such as a pair of radially spaced pads 40.

The drive means D includes a drive motor M which motor is preferably reversible; a power supply N which preferably includes a set of dry-cells or batteries B, (but which could comprise a transformer) a manually operable control switch S between the power supply N and the motor M, a drive gear G driven by the motor M and engaging the ring T and a housing 0 carrying the above noted parts of the means D and engageable with the ring R.

The housing 0 is a simple molded plastic shell like unit extending circumferentially below a portion of the ring R and has radially extending end walls 45 which are similar to the legs L and engage in related, adjacent, circumferentially spaced grooves 38 in the ring R. The housing has circumferentially extending, substantially vertical inner and outer side walls, a bottom wall and an open top. The top is effectively closed by the ring R when the housing is related to said ring.

The motor M is mounted within the housing 0 and has a vertical output shaft 55 projecting upwardly from the housing adjacent the inner side of the ring R and/o adjacent the slot opening 35 therein.

The gear G is engaged on the shaft 55 and projects through the slot opening 35 into the channel C and establishes meshed driving engagement with the parts 20 of the tow ring T.

The switch S has an operating lever 56 which projects radially outwardly through a slot opening 57 in the outer side wall of the housing.

The cells B are suitably engaged in the housing in circumferential spaced relationship from the motor and switch, substantially as shown.

so that a driven vehicle will push another vehicle, before it. forwardly, in spaced relationship. If the vehicles are cars of a train, the magnets are arranged to attract each other and in such a way as to couple the cars together.

In the second form of the invention, the inner carrier ring R is similar in most respects with the larger outer ring R and like the ring R, carries a tow ring structure T similar in all respects with the ring T. The ring R distinguishes from the ring R in that it is smaller in diameter and the gear receiving slot opening 35 is in the outer side of the ring R, rather than in the inner side thereof, as in the ring R.

The legs L and the housing 0 of the means D in the second form of the invention are similar in nature to their counter-parts in the first form of the invention, but are formed to engage with the two rings R and R whereby the said rings are supported in a common horizontal plane, in predetermined spaced relationship with each other and with the openings 35 and 35' in In practice, the housing 0 and the arrangement of the other components of the means D can be altered, varied and/or changed to a great extent without departing from the spirit of this invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the particular design and arrangement of parts of the meand D shown in the drawings and described above is only illustrative of one typical form of such means.

With the means D set forth above, it will be apparent that by operation of the switch S, the motor can be energized with resulting rotation of the ring T within the ring R.

It will be further apparent that if the motor M is reversible and the switch S is of appropriate design to effect reversing of the motor, the ring T can be selectively made to rotate in either clockwise or counterclockwise direction relative to the ring R.

The vehicles V are small facsimiles of 4-wheeled vehicles such as automobiles, trucks, trains tractors and the like. Each vehicle has an elongate body with a flat bottom 60 and appropriately shaped sides, top front and rear ends; front and rear transverse axles 61, adjacent to front and rear ends of the body, wheels 62 at the ends of the axles and has a vertical tow pin P at the forward central portion of the body and depending from the bottom 60 thereof. In the preferred carrying out of the invention, the pin P has an enlarged head at its lower end.

The inner and outer wheels 62 on each axle of each vehicle occur in rolling engagement on the inner and outer tracks K of the ring R, outward of the rail portions J of the tracks. The bottom 60 of the vehicle body occurs in close, spaced relationship from the top of the ring R, that is above the rail portions J of the tracks.

The top pin P of each vehicle projects downwardly into the channel C of the ring R and into the path of the tow hooks H and is engaged by one of the tow hooks H when the ring T is rotated, thereby towing and causing the vehicle to roll about the ring R.

in practice, the vehicle V can have magnets X and Y at the opposite ends. In the case of automobiles, the magnets can have their polarity arranged to repel and spaced opposed relationship.

The shaft 55 of the motor M projects upwardly between the rings R and R and the inner portion of the gear G on the shaft projects through the opening 35 in the ring R to engage the ring T' and the outer portion of said gear projects through the opening 35 in the ring R to engage the ring T. With this relationship of parts it will be apparent that the gear G drives the rings T and T in opposite directions at speeds which are only slightly different.

Vehicles V which are the same as the vehicles V are engaged on and with the ring R and with the ring T by means of the tow hooks H and tow pins on the vehicles, as shown, and as described above.

With two, oppositely moving sets of vehicles, as provided in the second form of the invention, the visual effect and entertainment to be achieved by the provision and use of the second form of the invention is notably greater than the effect and entertainment that can be attained with the first form of the invention.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the toy provided by the present invention is easy, practical and economical to manufacture, is simple, effective and safe to operate or use and is such that it will provide considerable and valuable entertainment for most children within the age group or groups for which it is intended.

Having described typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any modifications and/or variations which might appear to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates and which fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, l claim:

1. A toy of the character referred to comprising an annular carrier ring with a central upwardly opening channel, a pair of radially spaced upwardly disposed concentrictracks at opposite sides of the channel and having upwardly projecting inner rail portions adjacent the channel, an annular tow ring arranged in the channel for free relative rotation therein, said ring having a continuous series of gear teeth engaging parts about its circumferential extent and a plurality of circumferentially spaced upwardly projecting tow pin engaging tow hooks, a motor with a drive shaft, a drive gear on the drive shaft and engaged with the gear engaging parts on the tow ring, vehicles with elongate bodies with front and rear ends in spaced relationship above the rail portions of the tracks, and having front and rear pairs of laterally spaced wheels engaged on the tracks and a forward, central tow pin depending from the body into the channel and engageable with the tow hooks.

2. A structure as set forth in claim 1 which further includes retaining means to hold the tow ring in the channel, said retaining means comprising an annular horizontal flange on the ring and circumferential spaced retaining parts in the channel normally above and engageable with said flange.

3. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the tow hooks have horizontal radially extending tow bar portions extending transverse the channel adjacent the upper open top thereof, and on a horizontal plane above the plane of the tracks, said tow pins on the vehicles depend from the bodies and terminate on a horizontal plane above the plane of the tracks and below the plane of the tow bar portions.

4. A structure as set forth in claim 1 which further includes retaining means to hold the tow ring in the channel, said retaining means comprising an annular horizontal flange on the ring and circumferential spaced retaining parts in the channel normally above and engageable with said flange, said tow hooks have horizontal radially extending tow bar portions extending transverse the channel adjacent the upper open top thereof and on a horizontal plane above the plane if the tracks, said tow pins on the vehicles depend from the bodies and terminate on a horizontal plane above the plane of the tracks and below the plane of the tow bar portions.

5. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said gear teeth engaging parts are established by material between adjacent openings of an annular series of radial openings in the tow ring, the carrier ring has a radial gear receiving opening in one side, the drive shaft projects vertically adjacent said one side of the carrier ring and the gear receiving opening and said gear on the shaft has a portion projecting through the gear receiving opening and engages the gear teeth engaging parts.

6. A structure as set forth in claim 5 which further includes retaining means to hold the tow ring in the channel, said retaining means comprising an annular horizontal flange on the ring and circumferential spaced retaining parts in the channel normally above an engageable with said flange.

7. A structure as set forth in claim 5 wherein the tow hooks have horizontal radially extending tow bar portions extending transverse the channel adjacent the upper open top thereof, and on a horizontal plane above the plane of the tracks, said tow pins on the vehicles depend from the bodies and terminate on a horizontal plane above the plane of the tracks and below the plane of the tow bar portions.

8. A structure as set forth in claim 5 which further includes retaining means to hold the tow ring in the channel, said retaining means comprising an annular horizontal flange on the ring and circumferential spaced retaining parts in the channel normally above and enga eabl e with said flange, said tow hooks have horizon radially extending tow bar portions extending transverse the channel adjacent the upper open top thereof and on a horizontal plane above the plane of the tracks, said tow pins on the vehicles depend from the bodies and terminate on a horizontal plane above the plane of the tracks and below the plane of the tow bar portions. 

1. A toy of the character referred to comprising an annular carrier ring with a central upwardly opening channel, a pair of radially spaced upwardly disposed concentric tracks at opposite sides of the channel and having upwardly projecting inner rail portions adjacent the channel, an annular tow ring arranged in the channel for free relative rotation therein, said ring having a continuous series of gear teeth engaging parts about its circumferential extent and a plurality of circumferentially spaced upwardly projecting tow pin engaging tow hooks, a motor with a drive shaft, a drive gear on the drive shaft and engaged with the gear engaging parts on the tow ring, vehicles with elongate bodies with front and rear ends in spaced relationship above the rail portions of the tracks, and having front and rear pairs of laterally spaced wheels engaged on the tracks and a forward, central tow pin depending from the body into the channel and engageable with the tow hooks.
 2. A structure as set forth in claim 1 which further includes retaining means to hold the tow ring in the channel, said retaining means comprising an annular horizontal flange on the ring and circumferential spaced retaining parts in the channel normally above and engageable with said flange.
 3. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the tow hooks have horizontal radially extending tow bar portions extending transverse the channel adjacent the upper open top thereof, and on a horizontal plane above the plane of the tracks, said tow pins on the vehicles depend from the bodies and terminate on a horizontal plane above the plane of the tracks and below the plane of the tow bar portions.
 4. A structure as set forth in claim 1 which further includes retaining means to hold the tow ring in the channel, said retaining means comprising an annular horizontal flange on the ring and circumferential spaced retaining parts in the channel normally above and engageable with said flange, said tow hooks have horizontal radially extending tow bar portions extending transverse the channel adjacent the upper open top thereof and on a horizontal plane above the plane if the tracks, said tow pins on the vehicles depend from the bodies and terminate on a horizontal plane above the plane of the tracks and below the plane of the tow bar portions.
 5. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said gear teeth engaging parts are established by material between adjacent openings of an annular series of radial openings in the tow ring, the carrier ring has a radial gear receiving opening in one side, the drive shaft projects vertically adjacent said one side of the carrier ring and the gear receiving opening and said gear on the shaft has a portion projecting through the gear receiving opening and engages the gear teeth engaging parts.
 6. A structure as set forth in claim 5 which further includes retaining means to hold the tow ring in the channel, said retaining means comprising an annular horizontal flange on the ring and circumferential spaced retaining parts in the channel normally above an engageable with said flange.
 7. A structure as set forth in claim 5 wherein the tow hooks have horizontal radially extending tow bar portions extending transverse the channel adjacEnt the upper open top thereof, and on a horizontal plane above the plane of the tracks, said tow pins on the vehicles depend from the bodies and terminate on a horizontal plane above the plane of the tracks and below the plane of the tow bar portions.
 8. A structure as set forth in claim 5 which further includes retaining means to hold the tow ring in the channel, said retaining means comprising an annular horizontal flange on the ring and circumferential spaced retaining parts in the channel normally above and engageable with said flange, said tow hooks have horizontal radially extending tow bar portions extending transverse the channel adjacent the upper open top thereof and on a horizontal plane above the plane of the tracks, said tow pins on the vehicles depend from the bodies and terminate on a horizontal plane above the plane of the tracks and below the plane of the tow bar portions. 